A sales meeting is the chance to interest your client in your products, and for your client to ask pertinent questions that could help close the sale. To get your clients to relax and participate in the sales meeting, you need to use icebreakers to lighten the mood. When you use good icebreakers, you can create a interactive dynamic to the meeting that helps in closing the sale.

First Name Basis

Get to the meeting venue early and have yourself introduced to the people that will participate in the meeting. The introductions should take place away from the actual meeting room and be cordial. Find out whether each person likes to be called by her first name or last name and what proper title they prefer. Let them know how they can refer to you and write down each name so you remember it. When the meeting starts, greet everyone in their preferred manner to help break the ice.

Trivia

Develop a trivia question to start your sales meeting that has to do with something that would be popular with your attendees but does not have anything to do with business. Good topics include regional history, current events or a local sports team. While everyone is filing into the meeting room, they will all see the question and it will begin conversation among the group members. Start the meeting by addressing the question and then asking for the right answer. Allow a minute or two of conversation on the topic and then move into the sales meeting.

Character Traits

Every group has its characters, including the funny person, the smart person and the one everyone relies on for good information. When you open your meeting, try to assess which person is the funniest. Do not linger on the topic for too long, but share a couple of jokes with that person until the group has had a minute or two of laughs. You can then transition into the meeting. Having someone from within the group break the ice for you can be effective.

Funny Picture

Self-deprecating humor can be a good sales meeting icebreaker because you cannot offend yourself and it helps your audience see that you have a personal side. Hang a funny picture of yourself, done in good taste, on the board at the front of the room for everyone to see as they walk in. Start the meeting by explaining the picture and the transition into the meeting. Practice your story on friends and colleagues until it is entertaining and funny.

About the Author

George N. Root III began writing professionally in 1985. His publishing credits include a weekly column in the "Lockport Union Sun and Journal" along with the "Spectrum," the "Niagara Falls Gazette," "Tonawanda News," "Watertown Daily News" and the "Buffalo News." Root has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of New York, Buffalo.